Automatic railroad-gate.



J, VV. EBERT.

AuToMATlC RAILROAD GATE.

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@Morsang/0 J. W. EBERT.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD GATE. APPLICATION man FEB. la, |915.

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AUTOMATLCRAILROAD GATE.

v APPucATmN FILED FEB. 18, 1915. 4P Y m 11,994.9. hmm Nw. n m..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- attorney" mairie ans reinar T01-IN EBERI, `0F "WINONA, MINNESOTA.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD-GATE.

Application led February 18, 1915.

To all wwmz't may concern:

Be it known that la, Jer-IN W. Enn'r, a citizen of United States, residing at lliinona, in the county of lvVinona, State of Minneseta, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Railroad- Gates; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

his invention relates to an automatic railroad gate.

An object of the'invention is toprovide a gate of this character which will be automatically operated and which will be centrolled by the approaching train.

A further objectof the invention is te so construct the device that should a vehicle be caught between the gates the driver may readily operate one gate so as to escape from such position and yet the gate after such operation will be automatically returned to its initial position.

With theseand other objects in view, such as will appear as the description progresses, my invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts as set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims. 1

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of my device.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the construction of one of the gates.

Figl is a detail showing the pump op` erating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the switch closing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional vievxT of the gate eperating mechanism, showing the pistons and the valves in suoli position as they will assume when lthe gates have been thrown in their u right positions. p

Fig. is a fragmental view similar to Fig. 5, showing the switch closing mechanism in its inoperative position. y

' Fig-8 is a section on line 8,-8 of Fig. `1. Fig. 9 is a section on line9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. is a diagrammatic view of the wiring.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of the switch closing mechanism.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nev. 27, 191'?. Serial No. 9,1011.

Referring' to the parts are indicated throughout the several views :h

My device comprises a pair of spaced posts 1 and 2 located to one side of the track 3 and a second pair of posts 4 and 5.

Pivetally mounted on each post is agate G which comprises a section 7 secured to a shaft 8, a second section 9 pivoted to the end bar 10 of the section 7 for'horizontal movement and a third section 11 pivoted, as at 12, to the section 9 for vertical movement. This section 11 has a. warning sign 13 on the end thereof. rlhe sections 7 and 9 of each of the gates are kept in alinement by a coil spring 111, while the sections 9 and 11 are kept in alinement by a spring 15. Each of the outer sections 7 is provided with counterweights 16 to facilitate the movement thereof.

Mounted on each of the posts 2 and l is a contact 17, while on the section 7 of the gate is a second contact 18 which are the terminals of an electric circuit 19 having' a lamp 20 'and'batteries 21 interposed therein. The lamp 2O is mounted on the end of the section 11 of the gate on a suitable bracket 22. rlhis circuit also includes a bell 23. rlhese contacts 17 and 18 are se arranged that when the gates are lowered the circuit will be complete and the bell rung and the lamp lighted. @f course the lamp may be cut out of the circuit in the day time in the usual manner.

Secured to each of the shafts 8 in the posts 1 and 2 are crank arms 211 to which are pivoted links extending downwardly in the posts 1 and 2 and pivoted at their lower ends to bell crank levers 26 on shafts 27. These levers 26 are connected together by suitablev links 28 and 29, the link 29 being pivoted at the end adjacent the post 2 to a lever 30, which is pivoted as at 31, and to a piston rod 31 on the piston 82 which is operable in a cylinder 33. rlhus when this piston 32 is actuated the `gates on the posts 'l and 2 will be actuatec.

In order that the gates on the posts 4 and 5 may be simultaneously actuated, l have extended a conduit 34 beneath the track: 3 and located the extended end of theshaft 27 therein. The opposite end of this shaft projects into the post 4 and is connected to drawing wherein like by like characters mechanism therein for actuating'the gate thereon, the post 2. The gates on the posts 4 and 5 are actuated by mechanism similar to the actuating mechanism of the gates on the posts 1 and 2 and it is therefore thought not to be necessary to enter into a detailed description of this mechanism.

In'order that the piston 32 may be actuated to move backwardly and forwardly within the cylinder 33, I have provided a pump 35 from which extends a pipe 36 connected to the vcylinder 33 at 37 and provided with a valve 38 which allows liquid to flow from the pump to the cylinder 33, but will not allow its return Connected to this cylinder 33 is a pipe 39 having a valve 40 therein, which extends to and is connected with a reservoir 41 having connectionwith the pump 35 through a pipe 42`in which is provided a valveV 43 which allows liquid to iiow from the reservoir 41, but will not allow it to flow from the pump to the reservoir. This reservoir is provided with an overflow 44. Connected to the pipe 39 is a pipe 45 which is connected at 46 to the cylinder 33 at the opposite end to that withrwhich the pipe 39 is connected. Secured to the end of the piston rod 47 of the piston 48 is the cylinder` 35 in' a pitman 49 which is connected to a gear 50 mounted on a suitable bearing 51 and engaging a worm 52 which is formed on the armature shaft 53 of a motor 54. Thus when the motor is energized the piston 48 is moved forwardly in the cylinder 35 and the liquid therein is forced outwardly through the valve 38 and the pipe 36 into the cylinder 33. This forces the piston 32 therein to the opposite end of the cylinder 33, the valve'40 being closed, andactuates the lever 30 to lower the gates.

In order that the liquid may be allowed to flow into the reservoir 41, I have provided an electro-magnet 55, which when dee'nergized will release the valve 40 and allow the liquid in the cylinder 33 to flow therefrom into thereservoir 41. This valve will then be opened by a lcoil spring 56. I have provided a drain pipe 57 which extends between the cylinder 33 and the pipe 39.

In order that the motor 54 and the magnet 55 may be energized when a train approaches in either direction and denergized when the train passes beyond the gates, I have provided the following mechanism:

Located on each side of the crossing remote therefrom is a casing 58 which is between the rails ofthe track. In each of these casings is a disk 59 on Vwhich contacts 6,0 are formed and pivoted to each of these disks is a second disk 61 having an arm 62 thereon adapted to bridge two of the opposite contacts on the disk v59,. This disk 61 is provided with al plurality of projections similar to the mechanism within.

through the pipey 36.

63, e ual to the number of contacts 6 0. In order that the arm 62 in each casing 58 may be shifted from one pair of contacts to the other, I have provided an arm 64 which is secured to a pivoted shaft 65 and is made up of two sections hinged together, at 66. The outer ends of this shaft 65 are provided with arms 67 which have pins 68 thereon. The pin on one of the arms 67 extends through a slot 69 in a link 7 O, which link is pivoted to a lever 71, pivoted between its ends, at 72. Secured to the lower 71 is a link 73 having a thereof adapted to, engage theprojections 63 to rotate the disk .61. 'Secured to this link 73 is a spring 74 which is at its other end secured to the casing4 58at 75. Thus if the arm 64'is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7, the disk 61 will Vbe turned through' the mechanism l described and the arms 62 shifted so as to bridge the contacts opposite to those illustrated in this figure. Thepin 68 on the other arm 67 extends through a slot 76 in a link- 7 7 which has a hook 78 on the end thereof, which hook is adapted to engage any vof the projections 63 on the disk 61 and rotate the disk to the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, said projections63 being of sufficient width to permit of their beingl engaged by the hook ends of eitherofthev links 73 and 77, the said link 77 and the arm 64 beingreturned to their initial positions bya spring 79. t

hook on' the end Connected to the contacts 60on the disks 59 are wires of an electric circuit, which circuit includes both of the disks 59 in the casings on each side of the crossing and the motor54. e

Reference the drawing wherein this circuit is illustrated. In order that the circuit may be clearly understood and the operation thereof I will indicate the parts ofthe switches by the characters used in Figs. 5 andf the suffixes R and L added indicating the switches on the right andleftof the gatey as indicated in Fig. 1. IVhen `a train' approaches the gates going from` right to left a projection on the engine .will strike the arm 64 located on the right-side of the gates and this will cause the arm 62Rr to be moved into the position shown Iin full lines in Fig.` 10 atwhichtime the `arm62L will loef in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 10 so that a circuit .will ypass from thebattery S, through the wire 80, the electro-magnet ,55, the motor 54, the contactV 63T, Vvthe arm 62?, to the'arm 62, through the wire 82 andthe wire 83 back to battery. Thus the'l m0- tor 54 will be energized as will also be the magnet 55 so that they will operate in the manner previously described to lower the gate. Now when the train. beyond the gate the projection on the engine strikes with endyof this lever 'elfi will now be made to Fig. 10 of the arm Gat on the left side of the gate and moves the arm G2]- into the full line position shown in Fig. 10 which breaks the circuit previously described, denergizing the motor and the electro-magnet so that the gates are raised by the weights 1G. N ow should another train approach the gate in the same direction the operation will be repeated, but should a train approach in the opposite direction the operation of the switches will be reversed and the circuit closed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have Vprovided a device which will be operated by an approaching train to throw the gates into operative position across a road.

I have so constructed the device that the train after having passed the gates will cause the same to be lifted.

I have so constructed the gates that should a person be caught, whether walking or driving, between the gates he may swing portions of the same about pivots to escape from between the gates.

While I have illust-rated and described a particular embodiment of my invention I have merely done so for the sake of convenience and I do not wish to be limited to that particular embodiment as it is obvious that numerous changes may be made within the details of construction thereof without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

lNhat I claim is l. In a. railroad gate, a plurality of upwardly extending posts, gates pivotally mounted on said posts, bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said posts, links connecting the said hell crank levers and the said gates, a lever pivoted to one of said posts and having operative connection with the bell crank levers, a cylinder having a piston operable therein, said piston being connected to the last mentioned lever, a second cylinder having a piston operable therein, a communicating pipe between said cylinders, a revolubly mounted disk, means connecting the said piston within the second mentioned cylinder to said disk, means for rotating the disk, and means for rendering the said last mentioned means inoperative.

2. In a railroad gate, a plurality of posts, a plurality of gates pivotally supported on said posts, means connected to said gates to operate the same, a motor to actuate the said means, means to energize said motor comprising an electrical circuit having a pair of switches interposed therein, each of said switches comprising a switch arm adapted to close the circuit, a disk secured to said switch arm and having a series of projections on the periphery thereof, hooks adapted to engage said projections and means connected to the said hooks engageable by a passing locomotive to rotate the said disk.

3. In a railroad gate, a vertically movable gate member, a motor, a circuit therefor, a switch for controlling said motor and comprising a disk having a plurality of contacts thereon from which the wires of the circuit extend, a second disk having a plate thereon for bridging opposite contacts, and having projections extending from its periphery, a lever, a tripping lever, a link pivotally connected to said lever and having a hook thereon for engagement with said projections, a second link extending from the lever to the tripping lever and loosely connected therewith, resilient means for returning the links and tripping lever to predetermined positions, and means operated by the motor for moving the gate member in one direction.

d. In a railroad gate, a vertically movable gate member, a motor therefor, a pair of circuits having a common return wire for said motor, a pair of switches for controlling said circuits, means for closing one of said circuits through one of the switches, when the other switch is in the closing position, resilient means for returning said aforementioned means to its initial position, and means operated by the motor for moving the gate member.

In testimony whereof, I atiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. EBERT.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM: BURNS, W. T. VALENTINE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente, Washington, D. 0. 

